The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Major California Solar Project Moves Ahead
California regulators on Wednesday recommended that the state’s first new big solar power plant in nearly two decades be approved after a two-and-half-year review of its environmental impact on the Mojave Desert.
CB Richard Ellis Goes Solar
The Los Angeles-based company launched its CBRE Solar program Wednesday, offering services such as solar power purchase agreements, project development and management services, and investment opportunities to clients in the U.S. and Canada.
SPG Solar Completes Large Scale Solar System for JMB Realty
One of the Most Powerful Urban Solar Systems in the Western United States.
Victor Valley College Goes Solar with SolFocus Power Plant
New Solar Plant Uses Earth-Friendly Concentrating Photovoltaic Technology to Supply 30 Percent of Campus Electricity Demand.
Southern California Edison Launches Request for Offers form Independent Power Producers for Solar Program
Last year, the California Public Utilities Commission approved SCE’s plan to generate hundreds of megawatts of emission-free solar power from the rooftops of large industrial buildings in SCE’s service territory.
NATIONAL NEWS
Akeena to Provide Installation Services for Lowe’s
Akeena Solar this week said that it will provide residential installation services for Lowe’s customers in 21 California stores.
Florida Alliance for Renewable Energy Hosts Conference
Energy Security, Job Creation, Investments, and the Family Farm will take center stage at this special event.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
PUC Listens to Proposition 16 Debate
Critics of a PG&E-backed ballot measure that would hamper public power efforts want California energy regulators to jump into the fray.
kWhOURS Aims to Modernize Energy Audits
In the system developed by kWhOURS, auditors can export their Excel spreadsheets or instantly plug it into benchmarking and analysis software like Energy Star and DOE-2.
California’s Smart Meter Battle: Google vs. Utilities
There’s a battle looming in California over smart meters and energy prices.
If You Modernize the Grid, Will Consumers Care?
Part of the problem is the nature of the product–electricity is the ultimate commodity that consumers in the U.S. simply expect to work.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Senators Share Emission Bill’s Details With Industry Groups
Lawmakers at the heart of Senate energy and climate negotiations revealed key details today of their legislative proposal during a closed-door meeting with major industry groups they are courting in hopes of winning over Senate moderates and avoiding an expensive advertising war.
Obama’s Nuclear Madness and the Future of “Clean”
Obama announced the first loan guarantee to the nuclear industry in nearly three decades – a conditional guarantee of $8.2 billion for two proposed nuclear power plants in Georgia.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Agile Energy Secures Funding from Good Energies
Agile Energy’s near-term pipeline consists of approximately 400 MW of solar projects.
Iosil Secures US $13.5M for Polysilicon Production
The investment will allow the company to its polysilicon production pilot facility in one of several locations under consideration.
TECHNOLOGY
Aluminum Maker Eyes Solar Industry
Alcoa, the aluminum giant, is testing a new type of solar technology that it believes will lower the cost of renewable energy.
Intermolecular’s PV Development: R&D in Hyper Drive
Dozens of photovoltaic process experiments on a single wafer.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
Morocco: A Sunny Disposition
A solar-powered bonanza beckons. Morocco has virtually no oil or gas of its own and imports 98% of its energy.
Czech Parliament Approves Bill to Scale Back Solar Subsidies
The Czech lower house of parliament Wednesday approved a bill to allow the local energy regulator to sharply reduce the high fixed sale price for electricity produced at new photovoltaic solar generators.
Sahara Desert Solar Project Unlikely to Happen, Liebreich Says
A 400 billion-euro ($550 billion) plan by companies including Siemens AG and Munich Re to develop solar-electricity generators in the Sahara Desert is unlikely to come to fruition in its present form,
Suntech’s Dr. Shi Applauds Australian Feed-in Tariff
Chinese solar PV powerhouse, Suntech, has applauded the Australian state of New South Wales for its adoption of a feed-in tariff (FiT).
Q-Cells Declares 2009 Loss of $1.8B; CEO Resigns Amidst “Huge Loss of Confidence”
They were the number-one cell producer in the world in 2008. What went wrong?
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
In Recession’s Shadow, Solar Power Shines
The companies appear to be riding a wave of good fortune for the solar-power industry.
NATIONAL NEWS
Evergreen Solar Panels Now Powering Five Megawatt Italian Solar Power Plant
It is the largest installation of Evergreen Solar panels in the company’s history.
Suniva® Solar Cells Power 3 MW Solar Project in India
The 3MW, ground-mounted system is the largest grid-connected solar field in India, covering more than 12 acres.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Greening the DWP
The mayor’s plan, correctly, is for clean, renewable energy. So why the lack of transparency?
DWP Rates May Rise Between 8% and 28% to Pay for Mayor’s Green Initiatives
The hike would pay for more aggressive conservation programs and a solar plan designed to create 16,000 jobs as well as cover the fluctuating price of coal and natural gas.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
World Solar Photovoltaic Market Grow to 6.43 Gigawatt in 2009
The PV industry generated $38 billion in global revenues in 2009, while successfully raising over $13.5 billion in equity and debt, up 8% on the prior year.
Clean Energy 2010 Trending Up
Clean Edge’s annual trends report finds clean-energy markets holding up in tough economic climate — thanks to a lot of help from China.
Renewable Energy Strong Despite Recession
A devastating recession slowed but did not stop the clean energy industry’s growth in 2009, a report issued Tuesday found.
China to Restrict Polysilicon Production
Solar demand is growing, but China wants to prevent a bust.
China’s Policies Fuel its Renewable Energy Sector
The Chinese government has helped turn the country into an alternative energy powerhouse using a slew of policies that support domestic renewable fuel industries, according to a study released Monday.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Group of 29 Governors Seeks Renewable Power Standard
Schwarzenegger and others say a U.S. guideline would help spur job growth and economic development. They also say the current fragmented system is pushing investments abroad.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Solyndra Generated Over $100M in Revenue Last Year
Solyndra brought in revenues of $100.47 million for the fiscal year that ended on January 2, 2010, up from $6.01 million for the fiscal year that ended on January 2, 2009.
CPV Semi Startup Solar Junction Gets More Funding
A $13.3M inside round keeps the firm going while they wait for the CPV market to emerge.
TECHNOLOGY
RF Micro to Develop Solar Cells
In cooperation with the National Renewable Energy Lab, RF Micro Devices soon will develop a new generation of solar cells that produces far more energy than today’s solar panels.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
CNPV Signs Long-Term Strategic Partnership with Sinatis Europe
CNPV Solar Power SA has entered into a long-term strategic partnership sales agreement with Sinatis Europe, a French project development and distribution company.
Suntech Selected to Power Taiwan’s Largest Solar Power Plant
Owned and operated by the Taiwan Power Company, and developed by Fortune Electric Co., Ltd., the new 4.7MW solar plant in Young’an, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, will nearly double the island’s current installed solar capacity of about 5MW.
Siliken to Build 9.8 MW Solar Power Plant
The Spanish renewable energy company, Siliken has entered into an agreement with the company FRV -Fotowatio Renewable Ventures to set up a 9.8 MW power PV plant in the Italian city of Fiumicino (Rome).
9REN Completes Permits Three Projects in Italy
Two of the three projects are in the Apulia region, one in Latium, close to Rome: San Trifone (2.4MW) in Lizzano and Masseria Martellotta (8MW) in Palagianello (both in the Province of Taranto) are located near the 7MW already in operation.
Czechs Seek to Temper Solar Investment Boom
The Czech Republic does not spring to mind as one of Europe’s hot spots, yet an over-used subsidy scheme has created a bonanza for solar power that has ignited fears of a spike in energy prices and grid instability.
Ireland’s Surface Power Signs Major Strategic Partnership Agreement with Solar Energy Initiatives
Agreement will place the company’s industry-leading SP501 solar collector in all 50 states.
First Solar Joins Desertec Solar Project
U.S. solar power company First Solar (FSLR.O) has joined the Desertec solar power project, which hopes to supply 15 percent of Europe’s power by 2050 via a network of renewable energy sources.
The Rise & Shine is your daily source for all solar-industry news. Brought to you by Sweet Solar Home and the Experts at SunRun.
CALIFORNIA NEWS
Clouds Hold Clues for Power
The University of California San Diego has received a grant to battle one of the biggest enemies of solar-power generation. Clouds.
Solar Power Inc. Awarded Contract to Develop World’s Largest Elevated Solar Recreational Vehicle Parking Structure
Award marks second project for Solar Power, Inc. with management group developing the Temescal Canyon RV storage facility.
NATIONAL NEWS
For Renters, Solar Comes in Shares
Sometimes called solar gardens or farms, the idea is that utilities build the arrays, and customers — renters, people with shady roofs and even condo owners — can buy a share.
First Solar Sells 30 Megawatt Solar Photovoltaic Power Project
First Solar has sold a 30 megawatt (AC) photovoltaic solar power project to Southern Company and Turner Renewable Energy. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Kyocera Supplies Solar Panels to Georgia’s Largest Commercial Solar Project
USFloors commissions state’s largest commercial sector solar array.
PV Powered Inverters Used in 1MW Solar Project at the University of Toledo
The 1.12 MW system was installed by Advanced Distributed Generation LLC (ADG) of Toledo, Ohio and will be owned and operated by Constellation Energy Projects & Services of Baltimore, Maryland.
Solar Group Taps Energy Dept. Vet for Top Policy Slot
The Solar Energy Industries Association, the industry’s main Washington, D.C.-based trade group, on Monday said it has hired Thomas P. Kimbis as both its new director of policy and research and general counsel.
UTILITY INDUSTRY & REGULATORY NEWS
Privacy and the Smart Grid
Some technology policy organizations are worried that smart meters pose a potential threat to privacy.
MARKETS & MARKET RESEARCH
Analysis of US Concentrated Solar Power Market
CSP Today catches up with Bloomberg New Energy Finance’s solar associate, Nathanial Bullard, to discuss issues currently affecting the US CSP sector.
GOVERNMENT & POLITICS
Applied Materials Ups Lobbying Effort on Energy
Applied Materials Inc. ramped up its lobbying effort during the last three months of 2009, spending close to a half-million dollars trying to sway lawmakers on energy policy and other issues.
FINANCIAL NEWS & MARKETS
Day4 Energy Reports Fourth Quarter and Year End 2009 Results
Day4 Energy today reported operating results for the fourth quarter and full year 2009.
INTERNATIONAL NEWS
China Sunergy Announces to Acquire Two Solar Module Manufacturers
China Sunergy announced today an agreement to acquire 100% of the shares of two related module manufacturers
Statkraft Opens Its First Solar Power Plant in Italy
Norwegian power generator Statkraft opens its first solar power plant, Casale in Aprilia, Italy. Statkraft has also signed an agreement with Siemens Energy to build more solar power plants in Italy..
ABB Awarded $30 MW Solar Contract
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, has won a $30 million order from GA Solar, part of the Gestamp Corporation, to deliver a 13 megawatt photovoltaic power plant in northern Spain.
BKK Power Plans Solar Farm
Bangkok Solar Power, a leading producer of electricity from solar energy, will spend Bt100 million to build a large solar farm in Lop Buri province this year.
Atlantic Wind and Solar Inc. Signs $120M Project Financing Agreement with Canada Green ESCO Inc.
The Agreement paves the way for Atlantic Wind and Solar, and its wholly owned subsidiary Atlantic Solar Inc., to aggressively proceed with its many solar projects and to expand its business in the Ontario rooftop solar business with funding as required.
FITs, PV and the UK
A response to the current feed-in tariff/ PV debate in the UK.
Solar Choice Welcomes Feed in Tariff
Solar panel installation specialists, Solar Choice have praised the forthcoming introduction of the UK feed-in tariff, which will come into effect in April 2010.
German Solar Cuts Grounded
Piper Jaffray produced a research note on Monday morning quoting German press reports that the feed-in tariff (FIT) cuts for ground-based solar, including farmland solar projects, might be delayed until Oct. 1.
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